Device for cutting and trimming hair



S W E L H DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND TRIMMING HAIR Filed Feb. 9, 1940 IN VEN TOR.

LEW/s HARP/SON A TTORNEY Patented Apr. 8, 194-1 UNITED STATES PATENTOFFICE DEVICE FOR CUTTING AND TRIMMING HAIR Harrison Lewis, SanFrancisco, Calif.

Application February 9, 1940, Serial No. 318,081

1 Claim.

The invention, in general, relates to means for enabling an individualeffectively to cut or to trim his own hair or the hair of another. Moreparticularly, the invention relates to an interlocking comb-likestructure encompassing a blade, together with a suitable manipulatingmeans therefor.

The present invention constitutes an improvement upon my hair trimmingdevices which are disclosed in Letters Patent, Nos. 2,165,391 and2,171,880, granted to me on July 11, 1939, and September 5, 1939,respectively.

A primary object of the present improvement is to provide a device ofthe indicated nature which is especially characterized by the provisionof means affording a. smooth, tapering and even hair cut or trim withsafety.

Anotherimportant object of this invention is to provide an improveddevice enabling a user thereof to obtain what is commonly termed afeathered edge finish on the neck, the device being so constructed as toprevent the cutting of the hair too close to the skin.

A still further object of my present improvement is to provide acompact, interlocking comblike structure for cutting and trimming thehair which is particularly characterized by its minimum of parts.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of theaforementioned character which can be employed by even the mostinexperienced person without danger of injury.

A still further object of the present improvement is'to provide a haircutting and trimming device that will not become clogged and that lconveys hair that has been cut away from the cutting blade as the deviceis used.

' Another object of the invention is to provide an improved deviceof'the indicated character which while fully protecting the user fromthe blade nevertheless holds the blade in such man-.

her that the cutting edge thereof is disposed in the most effective andadvantageous position for efiicient use.

' Another object of the present improvement is to provide a relativelyinexpensive device having the foregoing features and readily and easilyusable'by the'unskilled or the skilled alike.

A'stillfurther'object of this invention is to provide an improved haircutting and trimming device that permits with safety the cutting of thehair to desired lengths without cutting too close to the skin. I

The foregoing and other objects are attained in a preferredembodiment'o'f my improvement which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing. In the following description of the preferred embodiment, theaforementioned objects as well as other advantageous features of thedevice will become apparent. It is to be understood, however, that I amnot to be limited to the precise exemplification of the invention shownin the drawing, as the invention, as defined in the appended claim canbe embodied in a plurality and variety of forms.

Referring to the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the preferredembodiment of the present improvement.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of a completely assembled preferredembodiment of the invention.

Figure 3 is a perspective View of the obverse of a combining plateforming a part of the preferred embodiment illustrated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a perspective View of the reverse side of the element shownin Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view, slightly enlarged, of a preferredembodiment of the present improvement, the manipulating handle beingonly shown in fragmentary view.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the reverse side of the element illustratedin Figure 1.

It is to be understood that the device, as improved, is not in any wayto be confused with devices used for the purpose of shaving inasmuch asthe improved device of my invention is constructed along new linesembodying features that enable a user to handle the device readily andeffectively in obtaining the desired smooth, tapered hair out, togetherwith the feathered edge finish on the neck without danger of cutting thehair too close to the skin.

In its preferred form, the hair cutting and trimming device of mypresent improvement preferably comprises a base having a blade receivingsurface, a blade removably mounted on said surface, a plate removablyoverlying said blade and interlocking with said base to encompass saidblade; said base and said plate each having cooperating comb-likeelements thereon which when the base and plate are interlocked form acomplete comb-like structure consisting of a plurality of elongated,spaced teeth having relatively high side walls for lifting and holdingthe hair in the most advantageous position for cutting and trimming,together with means on said plate for conveying hair that has been cutaway from the cutting edge of said blade to prevent clogging, and meansfor manipulating the device.

As particularly illustrated in Figures 21 and 5 of the drawingillustrating the assembled device, my present improvement consists of aminimum number of elements including a base II, a blade 52, a combiningplate 13 and a manipulating handle M. With the exception of the blade[2, which may consist of a conventional safety razor blade, the devicecan be made entirely of any suitable metal, such as aluminum, or analloy of any metal, or can be molded from a suitable plastic materialsuch as a phenolic condensate.

In accordance with the invention, I provide a base H which is preferablyformed with an upper slanting surface I 5 that terminates in a shoulderl'l adjacent a partial comb-like element l8 extending forwardly of thebase. As shown, the base carries a relatively short, threaded stud l9for removably receiving a manipulating handle M, and the upper surfacel6 of the base is formed with a ridge 2| thereon, which extends fromopposite sides of the stud I9 and assists in confining the blade I2 inits operative position. The blade 12, of course, is formed with acentral opening together with an elongated slot extending from oppositesides of the opening, all not shown, for passing the stud l9 and ridge2! of the base. Preferably, the bottom of the base II is formed with aplurality of spaced ridges 22 thereon with intervening grooves 23 inorder that the cutting edge of the blade may be brought in closercontact with the head as the bottom of the base is drawn across the headin the cutting and trimming operation.

The combining plate I 3 of the improved device is particularlyillustrated in Figures 3 and 4 of the drawing and preferably is providedwith means for efiecting an interlocking engagement with the base H. Tothis end, the bottom of plate i3 is so formed at opposite lateral sidesand adjacent to the teeth end thereof to provide extensions thereonwhich project at substantially right angles from the lower surface ofthe plate and which are adapted to abut the shoulder I! of the base H aswell as the back of the comblike element l8 thereon when the plate I3 iscom bined with the base thereby to effect an interlock between the plateand base. As shown,

plate i3 is formed with an opening 26 therein, as a well as with arecess 21 in the bottom thereof extending on opposite sides of theopening 26, for passing the stud l9 and ridge 2| 'of the base. Moreover,plate I3 is provided with a partial comb-like element 28 which extendsforwardly thereof and which cooperates with the comblilre element l3 ofthe base II when the plate and base are combined to form a completecomblike structure 29 substantially encompassing the blade E2, all asdepicted in Figures 2' and 5 of the drawing. This interlocking featureand blade encompassing arrangement enables a user of the device to cutand trim the hair to desired lengths yet prevents the possibility ofcutting the hair too closely to the skin, and also protects the userfrom injury. Moreover, the construction of the base and the plate issuch that when the two parts are combined they are so closelyinterlocked that no intervening space is left into which hair that hasbeen out can enter to accumulate.

The unitary comb-like structure 29 formed by the cooperating associationof the elements l8 and 28 of the base H and plate l3, respectively,

consists of a plurality of spaced teeth 3| which 75 are elongated andtapered top and bottom to form pointed tips 32 and which have side walls33 that are relatively low adjacent to the tips 32 but relatively highat the back of the structure. The elevated side walls 33 of thecomb-like structure function to lift and to hold the hair in the mostadvantageous position for trimming and cutting. It is to be particularlyobserved that the plate I3 is cut away between the teeth 3| of thestructure to provide inclined guides 34 extending from the cutting edgeof the blade l2 upward and backward to the rear of the comb-likestructure, such inclined guides 34 serving to convey hair that has beencut away from the cutting edge of the blade and thus prevent clogging ofthe device during use. As illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawing, thecutting edge I! of the blade, when in operative position on the uppersurface of the base ll, abuts the back of the comb-like element E8 ofthe base, and it is to be further observed that only those portions ofthe cutting edge between the teeth 3| are exposed.

It will be appreciated from a study of the accompanying drawing that myimproved device is readily and easily assembled since it requires only amoment to mount the blade l2 on the upper surface [6 of the base, thento dispose the plate 13 in position overlying the blade with the leadingend of its comb-like element 28 in abutment with the back of thecomb-like element l8 of the base and its members 24 interlocking withthe shoulder ll of the base, and then to fasten the handle 14 upon thestud l9 and to screw the same tightly down upon the plate l3. Moreover,it requires just more than a moment to replace a blade that has becomedull for the device is just as readily and easily taken apart as it isto put together.

It is to be understood that the appended claim is to be accorded a rangeof equivalents commensurate in scope with the advance made over theprior art.

I claim:

A hair cutting and trimming device comprising a base having an uppersurface which is curved upwardly adjacent to the front thereof, apartial comb structure extending from the front of said base, each toothof the structure having an enlarged front portion defining substantiallyvertical sides thereon, a ridge on said upper surface, a threaded studon said base piercing said ridge and extending substantially at a rightangle from the center of said base, a blade having a central hole aswell as an elongated slot therein for passing said stud and said ridge;said blade being adapted to be removably seated on said upper surfacewith its cutting edge abutting the backs of the teeth of said combstructure on said base, a plate removably overlying said blade; saidplate having a central hole as well as a recess in its lower surface forpassing said stud and receiving said ridge, a partial comb structureextending from said plate, each tooth thereof having substantiallyvertical sides; said partial comb structure of said plate combining withsaid partial comb structure of said base to form a complete comb theteeth of which have relatively high, substantially vertical sides forlifting the hair into position for cutting, inclined guides between theteeth of the partial comb structure on said plate; each of said guidesbeing transversely flat and extending from a point in proximity to thecutting edge of said blade upwardly and rearwardly to the rear of saidteeth, said guides serving to convey hair that has been cut away fromthe cutting edge of said blade, and a handle removably attached to saidstud so as to extend substantially at a right angle from said plate andbearing thereon when tightened on said stud to firmly hold said plateand said blade in operative position on said base; said handle servingto draw the device over the head with a substantial portion of thebottom of said base bearing on the scalp and with the cutting edge ofthe blade presented at any desired angle to the scalp whereby an even,tapering, short, long or medium trim of the hair can be made.

HARRISON LEWIS.

